Cash grants available for community groups

Community groups across Hertfordshire can now bid for grants from a £125,000 community safety fund.

The Police and Crime Commissioner’s community fund is now open for bids for individuals, communities and businesses in Hertfordshire whose projects contribute toward the priority areas set out in the Police and Crime Plan for Hertfordshire, "Everybody’s Business".

The commissioner is particularly looking for projects and schemes that focus on the needs of the public, particularly in the areas of support to victims of crime, offenders making amends and paying back for the cost of their crimes and for projects which can apply business sense to community safety. Bids should relate to projects and initiatives within this financial year (April 2014 to March 2015).

Among the thirty three schemes that have been successful in obtaining funding so far are two street pastors’ schemes in Dacorum and East Hertfordshire, a countywide service supporting the victims of sexual and domestic abuse, and a scheme in St Albans which provides talking therapies for young people who present with anti-social, violent or criminal behaviours.

A form is available online now for bids which need to be submitted by May 18 for consideration.